Mission
As employees, we are here because we believe in BAM’s mission. Through unionization, we raise our morale, pride, and job satisfaction. Our union will make BAM stronger, more democratic, and more sustainable.
Goals
BAM is a cultural institution that stands for freedom of expression, diversity, innovation, and open dialogue. However, as administrative staff, we need a truly democratic and powerful voice of our own in our workplace. This can be achieved by forming a union of and by BAM administrative staff. Without a union, management makes all of the decisions about our employment and our role is advisory at best. By unionizing, we establish the legal right as a group of employees, to collectively bargain for a union contract to cover our terms and conditions of employment. In organizing, we join thousands of other unionized administrative, technical, and professional workers throughout New York City who have also organized, including many of our own colleagues at BAM.
Process
1.
After signing up a strong majority of BAM staff on union support cards, we petitioned the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for an official vote to establish our BAMunion.
2.
If a majority votes YES, our union will be certified by the NLRB, and BAM will be legally obligated to bargain in good faith with us for a union contract.
3.
Next steps will be to elect a bargaining committee from among ourselves, survey everyone on their ideas for improvements, and draw up proposals for a legally binding union contract. Once our union is certified, even before we agree upon a contract, BAM cannot make unilateral reductions in our terms and conditions of employment.
4.
The contract, once negotiated, cannot be implemented without the approval of the BAM administrative staff union.
BAM champions diversity, equity, inclusion, and community. And it is our belief that unionization reflects these ideals at its core.
Why
Over the past several months, administrative staff have been talking with each other. All of us care deeply about BAM and are its lifeblood, yet we have no organized voice for addressing our concerns as staff. As a unionized workforce we would have rights and protection that we don’t have now. A union of, by, and for BAM administrative staff will give us a real seat at the table. With a union, BAM management would have to bargain with us as equals over terms of our employment, including compensation, benefits, job security, working conditions, our rights in the workplace, and more.
As employees, we are here because we believe in BAM’s mission. Through unionization, we raise our morale, pride, and job satisfaction. Our union will make BAM stronger, more democratic, and more sustainable. To find out how you can help, contact BAMunion at BAMunion@2110uaw.org.